Looking Backward 7.5.2012

The United States Postal Service now owns property in Ava and is expected to begin the process of constructing a post office building in the near future. The property purchased by the Postal Service is located at the corner of Washington Avenue and 4th Street, the corner lot formerly occupied by the Ava Lumber Co.

Cox Medical Centers of Springfield is now operating ambulances for the Ava Area Ambulance District.

Merrill and Estalee Culvey celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary at Squires Fire House on June 21.

Mr. and Mrs. Ebb Pruiett of Ava will observe their 65th wedding anniversary quietly at their home in Ava today.

Barbara Calmer and James W. Pitts were married June 20 at 6 p.m. at the First Southern Baptist Church, Ava, with Pastor Nolan Carrier officiating.

“Hooked on Life,” Saturday’s Bass Buddy Tournament benefiting Mercy Hospital will become an annual event. Paul Kester of Ava and Jim Eakins of Nixa won the first place cash prize of $441.40. A Seymour man, Ralph Rambo, won the $85 Big Bass Pot.

The family of Clifford and Esther Dye will host a reception in honor of their 50th wedding anniversary. Clifford Dye and Esther Kelley were married at Mt. Vernon, Mo. on Aug. 5, 1937.

Danny Lee Dry, the 13-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. Leroy Dry of Squires, suffered a broken arm Saturday when the horse he was riding slipped on wet pavement and fell with him. The accident occurred on Highway 5 near his home and the boy was rushed to the office of Dr. M.C. Gentry in Ava where he was given immediate treatment.

Most Ava Business houses will be closed Wednesday, July 4, in observance of Independence Day.

Mr. and Mrs. Hershel Delp and daughter, Connie, of Hickman Mills visited in Ava on Saturday night and Sunday in the home of Mrs. Delp’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. James Bradley.

Rondo Mackey, son of Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Mackey of Ava, who enlisted in the U.S. Navy last November, is now serving in the Navy Air Force and is aboard the carrier U.S.S. Oriskany for overseas duty. Young Mackey is a graduate of Ava High School class of 1961.

Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Glenden­ning of Ava announce the birth of a daughter at 3:30 Wednesday morning, June 20, in the Burge-Protestant Hospital in Springfield. The baby weighed 7 pounds, 9 ounces at the time of her birth and she has been named Michelle Rae.

Richie Williams, 10-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. Jerry Williams of Ava entered last week’s Dairy Day parade with his decorated bicycle and a “Little League passenger.” The sign on Richie’s bicycle read: “Milk Makes Little Leaguers Grow Into Big Leaguers.”

ROY –– An ice cream social was held last Friday night in the home of Mr. and Mrs. Tom Cunningham.

U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. –– Cadet James Gaston of Ava, Mo., has just completed two weeks of duty with an operational Air Force unit under “Operation Third Lieutenant.” Cadet Gaston, a member of the class of ’63, is scheduled to receive his commission as a second lieutenant in the regular Air Force next June.

Residents of western Douglas County complained to officers last Saturday night of disturbances caused by a large number of wildly driven automobiles and as a result charges were filed in magistrate court against two Sparta youths. The two youths were arrested at 10 p.m. Saturday night on a country road in the Breeden area.

Sidewalks will be constructed on the north and west sides of the courthouse within the next month, according to County Clerk W.F. Givans. The work, Mr. Givans said, will be done by the Weeks Construction Company and is to be finished by July 28.

Six calves sold at $18.75 each and twenty breeding ewes sold for $5.50 each at the weekly community auction here Tuesday. Cattle also sold well, according to Ross Patrick, manager. There is a good demand for good quality steers,” Mr. Patrick said.

A new cooling system is being installed in the new Thrasher Theater here. According to C.W. Thrasher, owner of the theater, the new system has a blower that has a capacity of 15,000 cubic feet of air per minute.

Merchandise in wide variety and valued at over $200 was stolen from the Springcreek store on Highway 5, south of Ava, Friday night last week. The store is owned by Larkin Haden.

There is a veiled threat that some of our large concerns, including mail order houses, may take their business abroad because of labor troubles.

We are promised that television will be perfected in another year and we can sit at our fireside, or in our air-conditioned room and see the picture shows.

Miss Blanche Sparks, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. E.G. Sparks of Dora, became the bride of Benjamin Larison, Jr., June 4.

Mr. and Mrs. Oscar Gentry entertained Saturday evening with a surprise birthday party honoring their daughter, Miss Jeanne, who was celebrating her fourteenth birthday anniversary. Mr. and Mrs. Gentry escorted the group to the New Wilson Theater, where they formed a line party for the evening’s movie. Following the show the group returned to the Gentry home where outdoor games were played on the lawn.

A completely new, latest type carbonator was installed Wednesday as part of the fountain service at the Norman-Gentry drug store.

Don’t sleep on the left side, it crowds the heart. If stomach gas prevents sleeping on the right side, try Adlerika. One dose brings out poisons and relieves gas that seems to press heart so you sleep soundly all night. Norman Gentry Drug Co.

100 Years Ago

July 4, 1912

That the price of land everywhere are steadily increasing, is a well-known fact, and the opportunities to get a foothold are every year becoming less. The question of land and land owning is fast becoming the question of the day. The man who owns land and a home of his own may be said to be truly independent. The day of free lands and free homes, is practically a thing of the past, and those who do not own land, are being crowded into a dependent set.

During the past year, 113,000 people made their pilgrimage to the tomb of George Washington. Mount Vernon, a short distance below Washington on the Potomac, is one of the most beautiful spots on the American continent.

Why not get the people together and organize an annual county fair association, for the purpose of displaying the farm products of this county in October of each year. There are few things that will advertise the resources of a county better than an annual fair where vegetation is well displayed, and the best stock is exhibited. An annual Douglas County Fair is a business proposition and is badly needed. Let’s talk it up.

The best way to reduce the cost of living is to produce what you live on.

All living candidates and politicians, and people in general are and have been crying for cleaner politics, but the cries have not yet been heeded. Someone has said that a politician keeps “clean hands” about as long as butter will stay fresh in the sun on a hot summer day. They soon learn those smooth tricks.

The fact that a man claims to be a Christian does not make it so, nor does it make a man trustworthy in every respect, because he says he is honest. Only the tried and true are deserving of complete confidence. This world would be much better than it is if people would live up to their obituary notices.

Green peas and beans and new potatoes are getting to be plentiful on the Ava market. Huckleberries are plentiful in this country this year.

The City is having some concrete street crossings put in this week. One in front of the Citizen’s Bank, and one across the street north toward the depot from Dr. Campbell’s residence.

Harry Martin has sold his livery business in Ava to John Humbird and Carl Flemmings, who will continue the business at the same stand. Harry says he expects to go west this summer, and take his family with him, where he hopes his wife will be benefited in health.

The L.B. Watson Real Estate Co. sold a farm of 160 acres just east of Noble for B.W. Thompson to a M. Vincent of Des Moines, Iowa.

The ballgame Tuesday afternoon between Springfield and Ava was won by our home team by a score of 9 to 1.

Visit the site of the Davis Nata­torium now under construction. Northeast part of city. If you want to own your own suit see Mrs. Oliver Davis by Saturday, July 6th.

125 Years Ago

June 16, 1887

Mr. John Bright, who lives on the Bull Creek Road in Christian County near the Taney County line, was in town last Tuesday and informed us of the killing of Bob Meadows at about two o’clock Monday afternoon. He and his wife were on their way to visit his brother John who lives about two miles below on the same road in Taney county, he was fired upon from the brush by unknown parties and instantly killed, the ball entering his breast and passing entirely through his body. Mrs. Meadows says she saw two men run but was unable to recognize them. Meadows was about 60 years old, and had lived on Bull Creek a great many years. This makes the 43rd murder in Taney County since the war…

Ozark News

After July 1st, a daily mail will be run from Mansfield to Rome, at present it only goes as far as Arno. A hack will start at each end and meet at Ava and then return. We do not know who the new carriers will be but understand that Mr. Silby will retire. Berry has made a good mail carrier and we are sorry to see min leave the route.

Parker Varble, confined in the Marshfield jail, has escaped. He got hold of a knife, cut a hole through the floor, and let himself down. Several more prisoners were caught in the act of following him. Sometime since, so we are informed, this same man Varble was sent to the penitentiary for a period of four years for overpowering a woman in this county. He was up this time on a charge of stealing bacon to sell. If he perseveres in his present course he will probably stretch hemp at no distant day.

The leading citizens have said nothing about celebrating and so Ava will have to pass the 4th-of-July by for this time.

So far nothing has been said as to which way the new courthouse is to face. In our opinion east and west would do very well.

Levi Swearingin, who has been confined in the Springfield jail for the past eighteen days, has been let out on bail. He looks very bad having been sick. We are told that the jail at Springfield is a horrible place to enter being the worst hole in south Mo.

BUCKHART NEWS –– Settlers are coming into this part of the county almost every day and there is but very little government land left.

FACT AND FANCY – Twenty-four percent of Norway is forest. … In Utah yearling steers are worth $14 a head. … A jewelers’ exchange will be opened in New York July 1. … Buddhism is becoming fashionable as a religion in Boston. … It is thought that York State will derive $200,000 this year from the celebrated inheritance tax. …